Stern: Deal By Tuesday Or No Games Through Christmas

The good news on the back-to-backs is that the players should be in better shape than they were in 1999. The players have organized far more basketball games throughout the work stoppage, are training hard, and (assuming resolution in the near future) the lockout will have been far shorter. While the quality of basketball in general may suffer with teams needing to play some back-to-back-to-backs, it should be better quality than in that abomination of a season in 1999.

 

There are 2 sets of home-home back to back games in the schedule for this season which hasn't happened in my tenure as a season ticket holder. I would imagine that would increase if they try starting a month later.

 

The last time there was a lockout there were some back to back to back games.

I would imagine we are looking at a similar scenario.

DD

 

I am so over david stern

anyone else here think bill gates and carlos slim could give the players the deal they want and we keep on going?

If I were billy hunter I'd be talking to the venues directly and working with other billionaires to keep on trucking. Reduce the league to 16 teams. 8 on each side, 4 teams make the playoffs from each side. 8 team playoffs with 7 game series. shorter sure but games seemingly more meaningful. Pay off all the scrub players that will lose out on this deal right now and make the players union smaller but stronger. It will help to get to the 16 team format.

Maybe even set up a roadie where games are played in crazy countries and tours against other countries top club teams. Set up the groundwork for a UEFA style later tournament including teams and playoffs from top teams.

I think with the smaller league, and better owners or even less owners is where this thing needs to be diluted. I'm sorry but the owners do not need to be making what they are making and this stern guy is a total asshat. He made have rode the michael jordan gravy train but I am over him. he is past him time, and he is trying to screw the players to reward his fat cat owners. the players need to recognize this and correct it now.

I think a player lottery including all the players spread out over 16 teams would be a major event. Can you imagine a lottery that lebron and kobe all agree to and the event around it? Each team gets a pick. then they go down the list team 1 to 16 picking players like at the playground until we get to 16 teams.

What would you propose if you were a billionaire?

Get ir done gates and slim !

 

Battier says he'd take less money if it meant games would become more affordable for fans. Class.

ShaneBattier Shane Battier
Methinks I would forgo a few points on the BRI, if we could guarantee that NBA games would be more affordable for fans, especially families

ShaneBattier Shane Battier
I don't know if my Dad could afford to take 9 year old Shane to see 33 year old play as much as he did #irony. $10 for a Bud Light? Cmon.

ShaneBattier Shane Battier
Wouldn't be where I am today without those experiences. Thanks pops! #BigEd

ZachLowe_SI Zach Lowe
And with 3 tweets, @ShaneBattier wins the lockout.

ChrisMannixSI Chris Mannix
That's why @ShaneBattier should be more involved in union business. Owners/NBA yet to talk about how a new CBA will help fans, if at all.

ChrisMannixSI Chris Mannix
I've been asking for weeks why the union doesn't have guys like @ShaneBattier or Grant Hill front and center.

 

Whoa, that is a first! Shane is indeed awesome.

That is how you win a PR war... not the "let us play" bs.

 

Shane should be taking more of a leadership role, he actually has the smarts to do it, while guys like Melo, James and Garnet, not so much.

DD

 

Yup, Stern definitely should have kept his mouth shut...

WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski
After communicating with several NBA players, here's what Stern seems to have accomplished on airwaves: He's hardened the players' resolve.

 

Yeah, if the players took this stance on a whole then TEAM UNION all the way.

The owners would truly be a bunch of hypocritical jerks if they opposed a player pay cut that would help the fans and not just them.

 

I don't see how Stern is out of line. He is the commissioner, of coarse he will be involved. To my understanding, the league is losing money. In result, something drastic has to change. By him saying what he said, was not bullying the players or the union. I'm sure those guys can handle business pretty well. We're not talking about factory workers struggling to make ends meat.

And for the opinion of the players make the league, I can agree with that. In the other hand, the owners make it as well. They invest millions and millions into the sport. Without that money, the league would be total ****. I can't see a sane person wanting to be in this business and lose money.

 

Shane is awesome. Completely down to earth. I don't think I would be that sane with that kind of money rolling in. Hurry up and retire old man, we need you as our defensive coach!!!

 

I just hope they can get it done next Tuesday.

And if they do, why can't the games start on time? These guys dont need training camp.

 

So if there is an 82 game schedule starting December, does that mean the off-season will be shortened? Or will they attempt to cramp all 82 games within a 4 month period?

 

Last time they crammed em in......even though it was 50 games it was a lot of 3 games in 3 nights scenarios.

And as the Rockets were older, they were good but not great, I think it hurt that team's chance to win it all....well that and Pippen quit on them.

DD

 

Stern on NBATV is like a dictator on state tv, spreading his propaganda. Even in normal times, NBATV feels like a state-run mouthpiece of some banana republic.

 

The answer to this ^ is in his previous tweet:

Working for the union is to represent the players' interests not the fans. Just like being a negotiator for the owners is to represent the owners. Mannix is pandering and/or naive here. Shane may be pandering, but I think he's sincere here.

 

9 rep bars with only 4600 posts?! He's a God among men on here.

 

And THIS is why the players are (for the most part) idiots. You can't let "spite" enter the equation here. This is a business negotiation. If the FACTS of your situation dictate additional compromise from your side. You just freakin' do it. If anything, Stern and the owners will end up crushing the union much worse if the players harden their stance now.

Let's just hope that George Cohen can talk some sense to the union negotiators on Monday.

 

So maybe the NBA should emulate the NFL model and actually share revenue, as opposed to trying to take more money from the players. True revenue sharing would fix all of these $$ issues.

 

Can I please list you as a reference? :grin: